Samsung to Supply Additional NAND Flash for New iPhone Due to Poor Yields at Toshiba and SK Hynix [Report]

Apple has reportedly tapped Samsung to supply 3D NAND flash chips for the new iPhone following lower than expected yields at SK Hynix and Toshiba, reports DigiTimes. The overall supply of NAND flash chips is purportedly as much as 30% short of demand.

Apple has turned to Samsung for more NAND chip supplies for its upcoming phones, since Samsung has relatively stable yield rates for 3D NAND technology and has scaled up its output of 3D NAND chips, the sources indicated. Android phone makers are also gearing up to introduce new flagship devices. As many of the major NAND flash suppliers are still seeing disappointing yield rates for their 3D NAND technologies, the global supply of NAND flash chips is set to remain tight through the end of 2017, the sources said.

It's being said that some manufacturers such as LG are already lowering specs on their devices due to the NAND shortage the iPhone alone is causing so far. Quite possible since the impact Apple has on the supply chain is massive.